Employee Profile

Cassie Davidson

Place of Employment: McDonalds
Occupation: Dining Attendant
Rehabilitation Counselor: Tracy Rushing

Sometimes the best person to decide whether or not a job placement is a success isn’t a manager or a DVR counselor but a customer who is impressed with the service he or she receives from the newly hired employee.

Fran Davidson and DVR Counselor Tracy Rushing had worked tirelessly to find the right fit for Fran’s daughter Cassie. Cassie had a run of bad luck with previous jobs when managers did not know how to work with someone who had a developmental disability, and Cassie was either let go or her hours were cut to almost nothing.

Finally they found a manager at a McDonalds in Centennial who understood Cassie’s challenges and saw an opportunity to capitalize on her social skills. He hired her on as a dining attendant, but Fran still wondered whether this new position would be “the one” or just another job that didn’t work out. However, she soon got her answer when she received a letter from a couple she had met through church. In the letter, they described how they recognized Cassie at bible study as the girl who had made a profound impression upon them one day when they went to grab a bite. A portion of the letter reads:

“One day my wife Jane and I and our neighbor Rose Dubic headed to grab a lunch at the local McDonalds on Smoky Hill Road which is not very far from our home. As we entered the establishment a young lady was sitting in the booth next to ours. She had on her ‘McDonalds Blues’ so we realized she was an employee. She immediately said, ‘Welcome to McDonalds I am so glad you came in today.’ We thanked her and she continued on. ‘I suppose you are wondering why I am sitting here? I am on my break and I am just about to go back to work.’ We were very impressed and felt very welcomed that a person would just talk to customers in such a friendly and inviting manner without ‘having to.’ We also realized her friendly character could not be taught. It was just natural for this young lady to be outgoing, proud of her job and proud of McDonalds. Having owned my own company for years you just wished all your employees were as friendly, proud of their company and as outgoing as this young lady.”

Fran said she was not only touched by the letter, but knew that everyone’s hard work had paid off and Cassie had found her perfect job.

“When I ask Cassie how her day was she says ‘I made a baby smile today,’” said Fran, “and that makes my day.”

Success Stories